My father was taken into the hospital just before Christmas the staff were nothing but polite, considerate, professional and attentive.

My father was taken into the hospital just before Christmas the staff were nothing but polite, considerate, professional and attentive.Dillinga

My father was taken into the hospital just before Christmas the staff were nothing but polite, considerate, professional and attentive.

Score: 0

co4 says...11:12pm Wed 9 Jan 13

So she doesn't provide any specific examples of how she felt staff were rude, "ignorant" (I presume she means they ignored her as most teenagers think it's the correct word to use) and left her in pain for hours. Bit of a non-story as usual.

So she doesn't provide any specific examples of how she felt staff were rude, "ignorant" (I presume she means they ignored her as most teenagers think it's the correct word to use) and left her in pain for hours. Bit of a non-story as usual.co4

So she doesn't provide any specific examples of how she felt staff were rude, "ignorant" (I presume she means they ignored her as most teenagers think it's the correct word to use) and left her in pain for hours. Bit of a non-story as usual.

Score: 0

jammin says...8:33am Thu 10 Jan 13

Everyone is so quick to say 'non story'. What else is the COLCHESTER gazette to report on? This isn't Eastenders, its real life. Murders, rapes, suicides, explosions, kidnapping don't happen everyday. This is local news - riveting. When they report to far afield, people whinge. When its trivial local news, people whinge. Maybe you should try reading the Daily Mail entertainment section as it might be better suited.

Everyone is so quick to say 'non story'.
What else is the COLCHESTER gazette to report on? This isn't Eastenders, its real life. Murders, rapes, suicides, explosions, kidnapping don't happen everyday.
This is local news - riveting. When they report to far afield, people whinge. When its trivial local news, people whinge. Maybe you should try reading the Daily Mail entertainment section as it might be better suited.jammin

Everyone is so quick to say 'non story'. What else is the COLCHESTER gazette to report on? This isn't Eastenders, its real life. Murders, rapes, suicides, explosions, kidnapping don't happen everyday. This is local news - riveting. When they report to far afield, people whinge. When its trivial local news, people whinge. Maybe you should try reading the Daily Mail entertainment section as it might be better suited.

Score: 0

rhetoric says...9:30am Thu 10 Jan 13

It's not trivial when someone is left worried, frightened and in pain for hours. An A&E waiting room can be hell on earth, only surpassed in frightfulness by some hospital staff. . Every time there is a complaint, there is a knee-jerk reaction from some unthinking person who has had a great time in hospital and therefore cannot support the idea that another person's stay was less than idyllic. Why don't they listen to these complaints? It could be them, next time. . The girl obviously isn't going to get compensation for "rudeness and callousness", so those who are waiting to claim that she is, back off!! . There are excellent, dedicated staff and there are horrible, rude, spiteful staff in hospitals. The latter, unfortunately, seem to be protected in the main by the former. When will the nursing profession learn that "closing ranks" is getting the entire profession into disrepute?

It's not trivial when someone is left worried, frightened and in pain for hours. An A&E waiting room can be hell on earth, only surpassed in frightfulness by some hospital staff.
.
Every time there is a complaint, there is a knee-jerk reaction from some unthinking person who has had a great time in hospital and therefore cannot support the idea that another person's stay was less than idyllic. Why don't they listen to these complaints? It could be them, next time.
.
The girl obviously isn't going to get compensation for "rudeness and callousness", so those who are waiting to claim that she is, back off!!
.
There are excellent, dedicated staff and there are horrible, rude, spiteful staff in hospitals. The latter, unfortunately, seem to be protected in the main by the former. When will the nursing profession learn that "closing ranks" is getting the entire profession into disrepute?rhetoric

It's not trivial when someone is left worried, frightened and in pain for hours. An A&E waiting room can be hell on earth, only surpassed in frightfulness by some hospital staff. . Every time there is a complaint, there is a knee-jerk reaction from some unthinking person who has had a great time in hospital and therefore cannot support the idea that another person's stay was less than idyllic. Why don't they listen to these complaints? It could be them, next time. . The girl obviously isn't going to get compensation for "rudeness and callousness", so those who are waiting to claim that she is, back off!! . There are excellent, dedicated staff and there are horrible, rude, spiteful staff in hospitals. The latter, unfortunately, seem to be protected in the main by the former. When will the nursing profession learn that "closing ranks" is getting the entire profession into disrepute?

Score: 0

jammin says...9:41am Thu 10 Jan 13

Sorry if it appeared I was belittling this story, that was not my intention, quite the opposite in fact. Wishing Samantha a speedy recovery

Sorry if it appeared I was belittling this story, that was not my intention, quite the opposite in fact.
Wishing Samantha a speedy recoveryjammin

Sorry if it appeared I was belittling this story, that was not my intention, quite the opposite in fact. Wishing Samantha a speedy recovery

Score: 0

Walt Jabsco says...10:07am Thu 10 Jan 13

rhetoric wrote…

It's not trivial when someone is left worried, frightened and in pain for hours. An A&E waiting room can be hell on earth, only surpassed in frightfulness by some hospital staff. . Every time there is a complaint, there is a knee-jerk reaction from some unthinking person who has had a great time in hospital and therefore cannot support the idea that another person's stay was less than idyllic. Why don't they listen to these complaints? It could be them, next time. . The girl obviously isn't going to get compensation for "rudeness and callousness", so those who are waiting to claim that she is, back off!! . There are excellent, dedicated staff and there are horrible, rude, spiteful staff in hospitals. The latter, unfortunately, seem to be protected in the main by the former. When will the nursing profession learn that "closing ranks" is getting the entire profession into disrepute?

You're right waiting rooms in A&E usually are 'hell on earth' but who makes it that way? The Hospital? Or the people who attend it? Some staff are rude, but that is the case in nearly every single company now, I can't believe the way I've been spoken to when trying to buy goods and services. Manners, professionalism and above all else a friendly approach to people seems to be in steep decline in this country now.

[quote][p][bold]rhetoric[/bold] wrote:
It's not trivial when someone is left worried, frightened and in pain for hours. An A&E waiting room can be hell on earth, only surpassed in frightfulness by some hospital staff.
.
Every time there is a complaint, there is a knee-jerk reaction from some unthinking person who has had a great time in hospital and therefore cannot support the idea that another person's stay was less than idyllic. Why don't they listen to these complaints? It could be them, next time.
.
The girl obviously isn't going to get compensation for "rudeness and callousness", so those who are waiting to claim that she is, back off!!
.
There are excellent, dedicated staff and there are horrible, rude, spiteful staff in hospitals. The latter, unfortunately, seem to be protected in the main by the former. When will the nursing profession learn that "closing ranks" is getting the entire profession into disrepute?[/p][/quote]You're right waiting rooms in A&E usually are 'hell on earth' but who makes it that way? The Hospital? Or the people who attend it?
Some staff are rude, but that is the case in nearly every single company now, I can't believe the way I've been spoken to when trying to buy goods and services.
Manners, professionalism and above all else a friendly approach to people seems to be in steep decline in this country now.Walt Jabsco

rhetoric wrote…

It's not trivial when someone is left worried, frightened and in pain for hours. An A&E waiting room can be hell on earth, only surpassed in frightfulness by some hospital staff. . Every time there is a complaint, there is a knee-jerk reaction from some unthinking person who has had a great time in hospital and therefore cannot support the idea that another person's stay was less than idyllic. Why don't they listen to these complaints? It could be them, next time. . The girl obviously isn't going to get compensation for "rudeness and callousness", so those who are waiting to claim that she is, back off!! . There are excellent, dedicated staff and there are horrible, rude, spiteful staff in hospitals. The latter, unfortunately, seem to be protected in the main by the former. When will the nursing profession learn that "closing ranks" is getting the entire profession into disrepute?

You're right waiting rooms in A&E usually are 'hell on earth' but who makes it that way? The Hospital? Or the people who attend it? Some staff are rude, but that is the case in nearly every single company now, I can't believe the way I've been spoken to when trying to buy goods and services. Manners, professionalism and above all else a friendly approach to people seems to be in steep decline in this country now.

Score: 0

Boris says...8:07pm Thu 10 Jan 13

I have been in Colchester A&E several times in recent years, once for myself, the rest of the time for other family members. Each time we have been treated correctly and sometimes speedily. Luckily we have not been there late on a Friday or Saturday night so we have missed the bad moments, but I'd say on balance they do a very good job. When you consider that they sometimes get assaulted or verbally abused by patients, I'd say the A&E staff all deserve our admiration for the job they do.

I have been in Colchester A&E several times in recent years, once for myself, the rest of the time for other family members. Each time we have been treated correctly and sometimes speedily. Luckily we have not been there late on a Friday or Saturday night so we have missed the bad moments, but I'd say on balance they do a very good job. When you consider that they sometimes get assaulted or verbally abused by patients, I'd say the A&E staff all deserve our admiration for the job they do.Boris

I have been in Colchester A&E several times in recent years, once for myself, the rest of the time for other family members. Each time we have been treated correctly and sometimes speedily. Luckily we have not been there late on a Friday or Saturday night so we have missed the bad moments, but I'd say on balance they do a very good job. When you consider that they sometimes get assaulted or verbally abused by patients, I'd say the A&E staff all deserve our admiration for the job they do.

Score: 0

nuttytart35 says...8:17pm Thu 10 Jan 13

I have to say I have been discharged from Colchester general hospital in the last few days after being admitted with bacterial meningitis and from the ambulance crew to doctors, nurses and consultants in A&E, ITU & Langham ward were nothing but professional, helpful and ultima tely saved my life! To the extent that one consultant came to visit me on itu the afternoon after admission to see how I was. They could not have done anymore and I did not witness ANY staff ignore any patient whether it be for pain relief or food or to wash them. The nurses however are not able to prescribe drugs so if it is not on the drug card they need a doctor to write it up and prescribe it so that would explain the situation where they could not give the drugs!! Surely the nurses aren't there to pass you your phone...they are there to make you better! There are proper compliant procedures to go through for the hospital to investigate and reply rather than going straight to a newspaper!

I have to say I have been discharged from Colchester general hospital in the last few days after being admitted with bacterial meningitis and from the ambulance crew to doctors, nurses and consultants in A&E, ITU & Langham ward were nothing but professional, helpful and ultima
tely saved my life! To the extent that one consultant came to visit me on itu the afternoon after admission to see how I was.
They could not have done anymore and I did not witness ANY staff ignore any patient whether it be for pain relief or food or to wash them.
The nurses however are not able to prescribe drugs so if it is not on the drug card they need a doctor to write it up and prescribe it so that would explain the situation where they could not give the drugs!! Surely the nurses aren't there to pass you your phone...they are there to make you better!
There are proper compliant procedures to go through for the hospital to investigate and reply rather than going straight to a newspaper!nuttytart35

I have to say I have been discharged from Colchester general hospital in the last few days after being admitted with bacterial meningitis and from the ambulance crew to doctors, nurses and consultants in A&E, ITU & Langham ward were nothing but professional, helpful and ultima tely saved my life! To the extent that one consultant came to visit me on itu the afternoon after admission to see how I was. They could not have done anymore and I did not witness ANY staff ignore any patient whether it be for pain relief or food or to wash them. The nurses however are not able to prescribe drugs so if it is not on the drug card they need a doctor to write it up and prescribe it so that would explain the situation where they could not give the drugs!! Surely the nurses aren't there to pass you your phone...they are there to make you better! There are proper compliant procedures to go through for the hospital to investigate and reply rather than going straight to a newspaper!

Score: 0

rhetoric says...10:53pm Thu 10 Jan 13

Nuttytart, have I missed something? Where in the above article was there mention of nurses being asked to prescribe drugs, or pass a phone to a patient? And, "nurses are there to make you better"?? I thought that was the doctors, and the nurses were there to nurse, ie do the basics and monitor the vital signs etc, albeit they may make you feel safe and comfortable - if they feel like it on that day. If you do need something passed to you and you can't reach it yourself, is it beyond a nurse to get it for you? I have seen a good and caring doctor do more than that. . As I said in my previous post, watch your back!! You were treated well and with respect, but on another occasion you might not be so lucky. Dreadful happenings are getting more frequent and it's the luck of the draw. I did mention that each time some unfortunate person complained, many flew to the defence of the hospital and its staff. By all means strew compliments around when you feel it justified, but DON'T belittle others who have been badly treated by flooding with your own opposite responses, ie making out any complainant to be either a whiner or a liar. I have experienced both sides of hospital care, and it's like light and dark. The dark side is beyond dreadful, and, it could happen to you! It matters not whether you go in to the hospital being polite and thankful to the staff or, as I've witnessed in some cases, moaning for England. I can vouch that the treatment is just a matter of which way the coin falls! Also, as to complaining to the official hospital setup ie PALS, well the spelling mistake above calling the procedures "compliant" just about covers what I think of PALS and their relationship to the hospital staff.

Nuttytart, have I missed something? Where in the above article was there mention of nurses being asked to prescribe drugs, or pass a phone to a patient? And, "nurses are there to make you better"?? I thought that was the doctors, and the nurses were there to nurse, ie do the basics and monitor the vital signs etc, albeit they may make you feel safe and comfortable - if they feel like it on that day. If you do need something passed to you and you can't reach it yourself, is it beyond a nurse to get it for you? I have seen a good and caring doctor do more than that.
.
As I said in my previous post, watch your back!! You were treated well and with respect, but on another occasion you might not be so lucky. Dreadful happenings are getting more frequent and it's the luck of the draw. I did mention that each time some unfortunate person complained, many flew to the defence of the hospital and its staff. By all means strew compliments around when you feel it justified, but DON'T belittle others who have been badly treated by flooding with your own opposite responses, ie making out any complainant to be either a whiner or a liar.
I have experienced both sides of hospital care, and it's like light and dark. The dark side is beyond dreadful, and, it could happen to you! It matters not whether you go in to the hospital being polite and thankful to the staff or, as I've witnessed in some cases, moaning for England. I can vouch that the treatment is just a matter of which way the coin falls!
Also, as to complaining to the official hospital setup ie PALS, well the spelling mistake above calling the procedures "compliant" just about covers what I think of PALS and their relationship to the hospital staff.rhetoric

Nuttytart, have I missed something? Where in the above article was there mention of nurses being asked to prescribe drugs, or pass a phone to a patient? And, "nurses are there to make you better"?? I thought that was the doctors, and the nurses were there to nurse, ie do the basics and monitor the vital signs etc, albeit they may make you feel safe and comfortable - if they feel like it on that day. If you do need something passed to you and you can't reach it yourself, is it beyond a nurse to get it for you? I have seen a good and caring doctor do more than that. . As I said in my previous post, watch your back!! You were treated well and with respect, but on another occasion you might not be so lucky. Dreadful happenings are getting more frequent and it's the luck of the draw. I did mention that each time some unfortunate person complained, many flew to the defence of the hospital and its staff. By all means strew compliments around when you feel it justified, but DON'T belittle others who have been badly treated by flooding with your own opposite responses, ie making out any complainant to be either a whiner or a liar. I have experienced both sides of hospital care, and it's like light and dark. The dark side is beyond dreadful, and, it could happen to you! It matters not whether you go in to the hospital being polite and thankful to the staff or, as I've witnessed in some cases, moaning for England. I can vouch that the treatment is just a matter of which way the coin falls! Also, as to complaining to the official hospital setup ie PALS, well the spelling mistake above calling the procedures "compliant" just about covers what I think of PALS and their relationship to the hospital staff.

Score: 0

rhetoric says...10:22am Fri 11 Jan 13

By the way, in most hospitals I have attended there are notices everywhere (but maybe not in the A&E waiting room, only when you get through to the treatment area) stating that if you are in pain, you should ring for help. . Doctors don't answer these bells, so nurses are indeed responsible for passing on the message about pain, and although they can't prescribe (thank God!) they should be doing something to alert at least a junior medical member of staff to the problem. . It seems according to some of the above posters, that the patient is to blame for being in pain, and the nurses are completely detached from responsibility for helping anyone.

By the way, in most hospitals I have attended there are notices everywhere (but maybe not in the A&E waiting room, only when you get through to the treatment area) stating that if you are in pain, you should ring for help.
.
Doctors don't answer these bells, so nurses are indeed responsible for passing on the message about pain, and although they can't prescribe (thank God!) they should be doing something to alert at least a junior medical member of staff to the problem.
.
It seems according to some of the above posters, that the patient is to blame for being in pain, and the nurses are completely detached from responsibility for helping anyone.rhetoric

By the way, in most hospitals I have attended there are notices everywhere (but maybe not in the A&E waiting room, only when you get through to the treatment area) stating that if you are in pain, you should ring for help. . Doctors don't answer these bells, so nurses are indeed responsible for passing on the message about pain, and although they can't prescribe (thank God!) they should be doing something to alert at least a junior medical member of staff to the problem. . It seems according to some of the above posters, that the patient is to blame for being in pain, and the nurses are completely detached from responsibility for helping anyone.

Score: 0

nuttytart35 says...11:32am Fri 11 Jan 13

No one is saying the patient is to blame for their pain!!! All I am saying everybody is too quick to criticise and very slow to praise which is why I felt the need to say what a great experience I had whilst I was in for 10 days from 28th Dec and how helpful and professional ALL the staff were I came into contact with even when I was in such a state that I was being difficult and obstructive. And the actual article in the Gazette states that nurses ignored requests to pass a phone!

No one is saying the patient is to blame for their pain!!!
All I am saying everybody is too quick to criticise and very slow to praise which is why I felt the need to say what a great experience I had whilst I was in for 10 days from 28th Dec and how helpful and professional ALL the staff were I came into contact with even when I was in such a state that I was being difficult and obstructive.
And the actual article in the Gazette states that nurses ignored requests to pass a phone!nuttytart35

No one is saying the patient is to blame for their pain!!! All I am saying everybody is too quick to criticise and very slow to praise which is why I felt the need to say what a great experience I had whilst I was in for 10 days from 28th Dec and how helpful and professional ALL the staff were I came into contact with even when I was in such a state that I was being difficult and obstructive. And the actual article in the Gazette states that nurses ignored requests to pass a phone!

Score: 0

rhetoric says...4:34pm Fri 11 Jan 13

How does it help that you had such a great experience in hospital? . I have repeatedly said that those who have good nursing - and there are many wonderful nurses, I don't dispute that - are very fortunate. . Do you, for example, go around saying "I wasn't abused by J.S., I enjoyed his show" every time some poor person comes up with what happened to them as a child? Probably not, so why jump in to a problem area with "Whooo! I had wonderful treatment even when I was obstreperous"? . Well, coming up with "I had a wonderful time with helpful and professional staff" is not relevant when we are looking at yet another person who did not get treatment with which they could be satisfied. . You might like to refer to articles about the experience of Ann Clwyd, MP who not long ago lost her husband in terrible and distressing circumstances. When she went public with the details, she was inundated with correspondence from those who had suffered similar traumatic experiences. This does need to be addressed, as does the closing of ranks when a complaint is made. . It is the job of nurses, as I stated before, to keep patients from distress and pain, and make them comfortable. Where is it difficult and job-threatening and against union rules to pick up a phone and pass it to a patient? I didn't see the "actual article in the Gazette". . My observations are not at all about Colchester Hospital but other institutions of similar size in other areas. . I haven't died from being in a car that ran into a ditch, I didn't drown in a car during the recent floods, and my house wasn't burned down in the heat wave bush fires in Australia, but I don't dispute that these things happen. I don't go around saying I'm ok, car accidents never happen to me, I don't drown, and my house never burned down. I try to relate to those who have suffered by these events, and hope that I and others can somehow help to lessen the likelihood of these dreadful thing to happening. . When one is scarred by experience of seeing someone loved suffering at the hands of those who should be caring for them and easing their pain, the memory is not going to go away.

How does it help that you had such a great experience in hospital?
.
I have repeatedly said that those who have good nursing - and there are many wonderful nurses, I don't dispute that - are very fortunate.
.
Do you, for example, go around saying "I wasn't abused by J.S., I enjoyed his show" every time some poor person comes up with what happened to them as a child? Probably not, so why jump in to a problem area with "Whooo! I had wonderful treatment even when I was obstreperous"?
.
Well, coming up with "I had a wonderful time with helpful and professional staff" is not relevant when we are looking at yet another person who did not get treatment with which they could be satisfied.
.
You might like to refer to articles about the experience of Ann Clwyd, MP who not long ago lost her husband in terrible and distressing circumstances. When she went public with the details, she was inundated with correspondence from those who had suffered similar traumatic experiences. This does need to be addressed, as does the closing of ranks when a complaint is made.
.
It is the job of nurses, as I stated before, to keep patients from distress and pain, and make them comfortable. Where is it difficult and job-threatening and against union rules to pick up a phone and pass it to a patient? I didn't see the "actual article in the Gazette".
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My observations are not at all about Colchester Hospital but other institutions of similar size in other areas.
.
I haven't died from being in a car that ran into a ditch, I didn't drown in a car during the recent floods, and my house wasn't burned down in the heat wave bush fires in Australia, but I don't dispute that these things happen. I don't go around saying I'm ok, car accidents never happen to me, I don't drown, and my house never burned down. I try to relate to those who have suffered by these events, and hope that I and others can somehow help to lessen the likelihood of these dreadful thing to happening.
.
When one is scarred by experience of seeing someone loved suffering at the hands of those who should be caring for them and easing their pain, the memory is not going to go away.rhetoric

How does it help that you had such a great experience in hospital? . I have repeatedly said that those who have good nursing - and there are many wonderful nurses, I don't dispute that - are very fortunate. . Do you, for example, go around saying "I wasn't abused by J.S., I enjoyed his show" every time some poor person comes up with what happened to them as a child? Probably not, so why jump in to a problem area with "Whooo! I had wonderful treatment even when I was obstreperous"? . Well, coming up with "I had a wonderful time with helpful and professional staff" is not relevant when we are looking at yet another person who did not get treatment with which they could be satisfied. . You might like to refer to articles about the experience of Ann Clwyd, MP who not long ago lost her husband in terrible and distressing circumstances. When she went public with the details, she was inundated with correspondence from those who had suffered similar traumatic experiences. This does need to be addressed, as does the closing of ranks when a complaint is made. . It is the job of nurses, as I stated before, to keep patients from distress and pain, and make them comfortable. Where is it difficult and job-threatening and against union rules to pick up a phone and pass it to a patient? I didn't see the "actual article in the Gazette". . My observations are not at all about Colchester Hospital but other institutions of similar size in other areas. . I haven't died from being in a car that ran into a ditch, I didn't drown in a car during the recent floods, and my house wasn't burned down in the heat wave bush fires in Australia, but I don't dispute that these things happen. I don't go around saying I'm ok, car accidents never happen to me, I don't drown, and my house never burned down. I try to relate to those who have suffered by these events, and hope that I and others can somehow help to lessen the likelihood of these dreadful thing to happening. . When one is scarred by experience of seeing someone loved suffering at the hands of those who should be caring for them and easing their pain, the memory is not going to go away.

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